Thrips Predator

Thrips are tiny pests capable of doing sizeable damage to plants. The thrips predator (Amblyseius cucumeris) moves quickly to attack eggs, larvae and small adult thrips. Female thrips predators, while consuming two to three thrips a day, also lay two to three eggs a day, multiplying the beneficial insect’s population as it feeds.

A. cucumeris, like thrips themselves, are small (1/16 inch or less). These tan colored predatory mites are hard to spot. They are best introduced ahead of infestations or when thrips are first noticed, allowing the predator time to establish an effective population before their prey has a chance to gain footing. Once thrips populations are eliminated, this effective biological control will stay established in gardens and greenhouse, feeding on pollen and spider mites.

The delicate predator eggs are deposited on fine hairs found on the underside of the leaves. Tiny nymphs hatch within two to three days and begin feeding on pollen, pest eggs and the smallest thrips. Their entire life cycle is no more than three to four weeks. Adults are a pinkish beige, tear-drop shaped with short legs front legs. They’re often found resting in hiding places including leaf-stem junctures along leaf veins and in flower heads. They are fond of high humidity and do particularly well in greenhouses.